Bottle-stopper.



K. H. HOFFMAN.

BOTTLE STOPPER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.12,1912.

Patented July 2, 1912.

1 Snow wow I/vi/M Wooeo UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KAY H. HOFFMAN, F WINTHROP, MARYLAND.

BOTTLE-STOPPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1912.

Application filed January 12, 1912. SeriatNo. 670,829.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, KAY H. HOFFMAN, subject .of the King of Denmark, residing at .VVinthrop, in the county of Charles and State of Marylandfhave. invented certain which it is positioned, mav be readily removed without the necessity of using an opener. j

A further object of the invention is to. provide a bottle stopper which will not be corroded by acids and which will not. in any way aflect the tasteof the contents of the bottle.

-Another object of the invention is to provide a stopper so formed that when insertedinto the neck of a bottle, a space will be left between the stopper and the inner side of the neck of the bottle above the stopper to receive sealing material of any kind, should this be found necessary or desirable.

The inventionaims further to provide a stopper of the type mentioned which will be particularly adapted for use in sealin bottles containing carbonated or brewed everages, such as beer, etc.

Another object of the invention is to pro- I vide a bottle stopper which will be but little, if any more expensive to manufacture than the ordinary crown cap now in use, and which may be repeatedly used and may be manufactured from one piece and one kind of material.

. For a. full understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in

. which Figure 1 "is a vertical sectional view through the stopper embodying the present invention and through the neck of thebottle within which the stopper is fitted. Fig. 2 is a View in elevation of one form of stopper removed from the bottle neck. Fig.3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating a slight modification of the invention. Fig. 4 is a similar view illustrating another modification. Figs. 5 and 6 are. views illustrating the stopper applied within the neck of an ordinary bottle, such for example, as abeer bottle.

In the drawing, the stopper embodying the present invention is illustrated as comprising a substantially conical body 1 provlded at its base with an outstanding circumscribing flange 2. At its upper end the a body 1 is provided with a stem 3 which-may be grasped between the fingers for the purpose of removing the stopper from a bottle 1n a manner to be presently explained. The base of the body 1 of the stopper is under normal conditions fiat or plane. The stopper is preferably formed from rubber and possesses the required. degree of elasticity to allow for compression of its flange 2 and the base portion ofthe body 1.

The bottle neck shown in Fig. 1 is indicated by the numeral 4 and at its upper end is exteriorly tapered as at 5, and the said neck is formed interiorly with an annular groove 6 having a bottom wall 7 which is slightly rounded as at 8, and an inclined wall 9. The bottom wall 7 of the groove forms an annular shoulder and except for its rounded portion 8, lies-in a substantially horizontal plane. The wall 9 of the groove 1s concentrlc with respectto the wall 5, as shofivr; in the said Fig.1 and overhangs the we In applying the stopper to the bottle neck shown in Fig. 1, a machine or tool is employed which includes a plunger, preferably of hard oak, as shown in the said Fig. '1 and indicated by the numeral 10, this plunger having a ta ered neck 11 andan axially located soc et 12 which opens through the lower end of the said neck. The neck 11 is 'of a diameter less than or equal to the internal diameter of the bottle neck, and the socket 12 is of a diameter to receive the stem 3 of the stopper and in this instance receives the said stopper stem frictionally. The stem of the stop ershown in Fig. 1, as well as that shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is increased in diameter from its lower end to a point substantially midway between its ends above which point it is of conical form, the first mentioned portion being indicated by the numeral 3 and the conical portion by the numeral 3*. The stem is of course of greater diameter at the v the plunger 10 is forced downwardly thereby forcingthe stopper into the bottle neck until the stopper assumes about the position shown in Fig. 1 in dotted. lines. The plunger 10 is then quickly retracted so as to draw upwardly upon the stem of the stopper and cause the rim and flange 2 to fit snugly in the corner between the angle of the groove 6 and u on the wall 7, as illustrated in Fig. 1 o the drawing. An advantage gained'by forming the upper end of the stem 3 of the stopper of con cal form resides in the fact that should the stem be out of axial alinement with the plunger when the plunger descends, the stem will be guided into the socket 12 of the plunger.

The stopper at the rim of its flange- 2 and at. the base of its body 1 is of a diameter greater than is the bottle neck interiorly so that when the stopper is drawn upwardly to assume the position as shown in full lines in Fig.;1 the flange 2 and the base portion 1 3 5 will be compressed and the under side of the 1 base portion will then be concaved, as indicated at 13 in the said Fig. 1. .When thus assembled with the bottle neck, thestem 3 oft-he stopper will project above the upper end of the bottle neck so that it may be readily grasped between the fingers and a pull exerted thereon to remove the stopper. It will be understood however, that the walls of the socket 12 do not so tightly engage or fit the stem 2-as to pull the stopper .upwardly' 'beyond the full line position, as. shown in f Fig. 1. It will also be understood that any pressure created within the bottle-will tend to more firmly force the flange 2 and base portion of the body 10f the stopper-against the wall 9 of the groove in the bottle neck,

and that due to the fact that the body of the stopper is relatively thin at its base portion,

.ed against its under side.

. pressure against the under side of the stop per will cause the base portion to bear more firmly against the wall 9 of the groove, although when a pull is exerted upon the stem 3 thetendencywill be to contract or decrease the diameter of the said-base portion. As a result, less resistance will be offered to removal of the stopper when a pull is exerted.

upon its stem 3 than when pressure is exert- Under certain conditions it may be desirable to employa stopper of the form shown inFig. 2, this Thebottle neck shown in Fig. 3 is stopper having an ellipsoidal stem which at i its greatest diameter is of a size to be freely received in the socket of the plunger.

interiorly with a groove 14 having an upper wall 15 and awall ,16, this groove correformed sponding in the general location of its walls to the groove 6,1except that inthe instance of the form of the invention shown in Fig.

3, the wall 15 overhangs the wall '16. In fit-.

ting the stopper shown in Fig. 2 into the neck of the bottle shown in 3, .the method above described is carried out. However, as above stated, the stem of the stopper shown in Fig. 2 at itswidest part is of a diameterless than the diameter of the socket 12 so that when the plunger is retracted the stopper will 'be left in the con dition shown in the said Fig. 3, its stem not being frictionally engaged by the walls of the socket.

The bottle neck shown in Fig. 4 and indi cated by the numeral 17 is'formed interiorly with an annular groov having an upwardly, 5

inwardly inclined bot om wall 18, a'substantially vertical wall 19, and an upwardly,

inwardly inclined-upper wall 20 which; overhangs the wall 18 and is inclined at a greater angle than the said wall'18. The stopperv 1 shown inFig. 1 is assembled with the bottle neck 17 in precisely the same manner as it is with the bottle neck 4 and will assume the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4;-

when the plunger descends, and the posit-ion shown in full lines in the said figure when the plunger is retracted.

By referring to Figs. 5and 6 of the drawing, it will be observed thatthe stoppermay be readily applied within the neck of an ordinary beer bottle, or the like. j

In Fig. 5, the stopper. illustrated is of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 4 and in fitting the stopper within the neck of such a bottle,

the operation described inconnection with the fitting of the stopper to the bottle necks shown in the said Figs. 1 and 4 is carried out, in which event the stopper will assume the posit-ion shown in the said Fig. 5,.upon

retraction of the plunger. The stopper shown in Fig. 2 is employed in sealing the bottle neck shown in Fig. 6 and the manner of fitting thisstopper to this form of the bottle neck is the same as in fitting the stopper shown in Fig. 3. When fitted as shown in Fig. 6, it is well adapted to seal a. bottle containing a carbonated or brewed beverage, inasmuch as pressure against its under side when so fitted will tend to force its base and flange against the wall of the n ck much mpre firmly than when fitted, .as lshown in Fig. 5. By referring to Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6, it will be observed that in every instance there is a space left between the stopper and the inner surface of the bottle neck above the base of the stopper into which space may be poured paraflinj-sealing wax, or in fact any other suitable sealing material, if it is found expedient.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is 5- p 1. A bottle stopper comprising a compressible body, and a stem projecting from the upperside of the body, the stem being increased in diameter from its lower end to a point between its ends and above the said point being of conical form.

2. A bottle stopper of compressible material having a conical body relatively thin at and adjacent the periphery of its base, and

a stem forming a continuation of the upper end of the body.

3. A bottle stopper consisting of a one piece body having a stem rojecting from its upper side, the body belng circular at its.

base and being gradually increased in thick- L ness from the periphery of its base to its point of juncture with its stem, the said stopper being of compressible material.

'4. A bottle stopper of compressible and elastic material comprising a substantially conical body having a stem projecting from its apex and provided at its base with an integral flange capable of being flexed to surround the body or to project from the under i side of the body whereby to provide the body with a convex or concave under side.

In testimon whereof, I afiix my signature in presence 0 two witnesses.

' KAY H. HOFFMAN. Witnesses:

Geo. S. LIVINGSTON, SAMUEL N. AoKER. 

